The side the rest of us see going downtown.
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Looks like the Ligon St bridge over 440 is almost done. Together with the Blue Ridge projects, it will vastly improve bike and pedestrian access to the arboretum / fairgrounds/ arena district. And also help improve connectivity for Method residents. That whole neighborhood is basically hemmed in by two stroads and a highway. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article296009639.html
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I predict that will become a popular shortcut to avoid parts of Western Blvd and Hillsborough St.
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Was that where there used to be a one lane tunnel? I used to love using that to skip traffic after football games.
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Right? Just another year, two max, unless it is 3.
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It’s kind of like those Dr Pepper commercials in Fansville. Except we live in Waitsville. Always waiting for something to start…
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NCDOT closed Blue Ridge Road-Hillsborough three years ago, and they say it will be another two years before they finish. It was originally scheduled for completion last year.
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Railroads are a pain in the ass to work with, so its not surprising.
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That is insane, but as @CivilFuture says, railroads are a PITA! I am so glad that I am not driving this area/corridor as part of my daily!
This doesn’t bode well for ever connecting West St. under the tracks at Union Station. 
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In defense of railroads, remember that railroad bridges have to bear much more load than road bridges. Also, about sixteen trains a day go over Blue Ridge Road and there is no detour around the site.
I believe there were unknown (although perhaps not unknowable) issues with utilities and soil strength at the site, as well.
But yes, constructing the West St extension is likely to be another nightmare, although I would hope that RUS construction facilitates the project. I question whether it’s worth it, from the perspective of benefit-to-cost ratio.
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It’s worth it to improve the grid.
Improving/increasing a city’s grid is always worth it in the end. Cost notwithstanding.
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It does but I’d make the midtown bridge over I-440 a higher priority.
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This was insane last night for people just trying to get home, and who thought putting 2 Billy eyelash shows on the first 2 nights of the fair was a good idea?
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Clearly the only solution is to add a lane or two to every road.
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